Device for positioning siding



May 19, 19 4 L. A. GAYAN DEVICE FOR POSITIONING SIDING Filed Oct. 22, 1962 INVENTOR. LEO A. GAYAN BY Mam MAIL ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,133,357 DEVICE FOR POSITIONING SIDING Leo A. Gayan, 827 E. Leonard St., Ironwood, Mich. Filed Oct. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 232,675 6 Claims. (Cl. 33-187) This invention relates to a tool for use in applying hardboard siding to a wall of sheathing or other supporting structure; in particular, the invention concerns a new and improved device for positioning siding in such a manner as to eliminate holding the siding by hand while it is being nailed and at the same time insure that the siding is being applied in parallel courses, without the need for constant measuring.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved device for positioning siding preparatory to its being nailed in place.

Another object of this invention is to provide a siding positioning device having adjustable means for varying the exposure of the siding and novel and improved means for spring mounting one course of siding in an overlying manner on another course of siding preparatory to nailing of the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a device for positioning siding novel structure adapted to overlay the siding and afford means to hold the same while it is being nailed in place.

A further object of this invention is to provide a siding positioning device adapted to save labor, reduce error in positioning siding, and save time.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device for positioning siding that is easy to manufacture, low in cost, efficient in operation, light in weight and easy to manipulate and use.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration only.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged perspective of the invention, with dotted lines indicating it in an extended position;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a building wall showing the invention in use;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view taken on the line 55 of FIG- URE;-4-; and

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the upper guide member forming part of the invention.

The structural features of my invention are described with respect to a single device; however, in use it is nec essary to use at least two and preferably three of the supports for holding a length of siding during the nailing process. By providing a vertically biased mounting for the siding that is being applied, it is possible to exactly align the siding in accordance with the other courses along a wall without constant measuring and fitting.

Referring now to the drawing, my invention consists essentially of an elongated upper guide member 10, an elongated lower guide member 20 and a tension spring member 30, all assembled in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1. Upper guide member 10, as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 6, is characterized by an elongated body 11 3,133,357 Patented May 19, 1964 tion 16 and an inwardly tapering section 17 leading therefrom to the lower end of guide member 10. Carried at the lower end of upper guide member 10 by means of a hole 18 extending through edge 15 is a threaded bolt and wing-nut combination 19.

Carried in an overlying slidable manner upon upper guide member 10 is lower guide member 20. Lower guide member 20 has an elongated body 21 of the same general width as upper guide member 10, the lower end of which terminates in an inwardly extending edge or lip 22. Body 21 is substantially uniform in thickness throughout its length, as contrasted with the inclined surface 17 of upper guide member 10. Attached to the inner side of edge 22 is a serrated plate 23 having teeth 24 positioned slightly above the plane of edge 22.

A central longitudinal slot 25 is positioned in lower guide member 20 slightly toward the upper end from the middle thereof, to provide means for slidably mounting lower guide member 20 upon upper guide member 10 in longitudinal adjusting relation therewith by virtue of bolt and wing-nut combination 19. When lower guide member 20 is mounted upon upper guide member 10 and fastened in place as described, the tapering section 17 of upper guide member 10 provides the contact surface for lower guide member 20.

As explained, an elongated tension spring member 30 is provided, which is secured to a hook carried by the upper end of lower guide member 20. The upper free end 31 of spring 30 terminates in an eye 32 adapted to engage a nail or other support, as will be explained.

In the use and operation of the device, the siding to be applied (indicated by reference character 50 in FIG- URE 2) is mounted in overlying relationship to the siding immediately therebelow (as at 52 in FIGURE 2) by means of a plurality of my devices. As shown in FIGURE 2, the preferred number of supports is three, one at each end and one in the middle. After the first course 52 is nailed in place the second and subsequent courses can be applied in the following manner: A series of three nails 54 are placed in the underlying sheathing 56 about l8"'above the first course 52 and above each end and at the middle of the course 50 of siding to be applied. The device is adjusted for the amount of siding to be exposed by moving upper guide member 10 with respect to lower guide member 20 within the limits of slot 25 and tightening the members 10, 20 together with wing-nut 13. The distance designated by reference character 60 in FIGURE 1 represents the amount of siding 50 that will be exposed to the weather. The dotted line extension in FIGURE 1 shows the longitudinal adjustment that is possible with the device. After the foregoing adjustment has been made, each spring member 30 is hooked upon a nail 54 in the manner shown in FIGURE 2. The length of siding 5%) to be applied is brought up to its approximate position overlying the course 52 therebelow and the inwardly extending edge 15 of one of the upper guide members 10 is hooked under the bottom edge of the siding to be applied with edge 22 of lower guide member 20 being engaged with the bottom edge of the lower course of siding 52. Displacement of the device from the siding is prevented by the teeth 24 of plate 23 in lower guide member 20 which are forced by the pressure of spring member 30 into gripping engagement with the bottom of the lower course 52. The foregoing process is repeated for each of the devices until the length of siding to be applied is suspended at each end and in the middle.

The siding is thus held in place by spring tension ready to be nailed without the need for constant measuring and hand holding while it is being nailed into place. The spring members 30 are especially useful in sliding the siding into place as each device may be pulled free of the wall against spring pressure to permit the siding to be installed.

Thus there has been shown and described a new and improved device for positioning siding preparatory to nailing of the same to a back support of sheathing or other material. My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be entirely satisfactory for the use for which it is intended. Although my invention has been disclosed in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, varia tions and modifications may be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles of the invention. I consider all of these variations and modifications to be within the true spirit and scope of the present invention, as disclosed in the foregoing description and defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for positioning a length of siding preparatory to the nailing of the same to a wall of sheathing or other supporting structure, an elongated upper guide member having an inner surface engageable along substantially the entire width of the siding to be applied and having an inwardly extending lower edge abuttingly engageable with the lower edge of the siding to be applied, said upper guide member further having an inwardly tapered outer surface adjacent the lower portion thereof, an elongated lower guide member overlying said upper guide member and slidably engageable with the tapered surface of the said upper guide member, said lower guide member having an inwardly extending lower edge abuttingly engageable with the lower edge of the course of siding immediately below the siding to be applied, means fastening said guide members together whereby to position them in a selected longitudinal position, and means carried by the upper end of said lower guide member for longitudinally biasing said device between the said sheathing above the siding to be applied and the course of siding immediately therebelow.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said fastening means consists of a bolt extending outwardly from the lower end of said upper guide member, said lower guide member being provided with a longitudinal slot surroundingly engageable with said bolt, and means threadedly secured to said bolt for tightening said lower guide member against said upper guide member.

4 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said biasing means consists of a tension coil spring member attached at one end thereof to the upper end of said lower guide member and having a free end securable to the said sheathing 5 above the siding to be applied.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the inwardly extending lower edge of said lower guide member is provided with a thin rigid serrated plate adapted to engage and hold the lower edge of the siding to be applied.

5. In a device for positioning siding, an elongated upper guide member having a generally coplanar inner surface engageable along substantially the entire width of the siding to be applied, said upper guide member having an inwardly extending lower edge supportingly engageable with the lower edge of the said siding and having an inwardly tapered outer surface adjacent the said lower edge, an elongated lower guide member slidably engageable with the tapered outer surface of said upper guide member and having its upper end in outwardly spaced overlying relation to said upper guide member, the lower end of said lower guide member having an inwardly extending portion supportingly engagcable with the lower edge of the siding immediately below the siding to be applied, means securing said guide members together whereby to provide lengthwise adjustment of the spacing between the lower edge of said upper guide member and the inwardly extending portion of said lower guide member, and an elongated coil spring connected to the upper end of said lower guide member and extending upwardly therebeyond.

6. The device described in claim 5 wherein a thin toothed plate is secured to the inwardly extending portion of said lower guide member, said toothed plate being grippingly engageable with the lower edge of the siding immediately below the siding to be applied.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR POSITIONING A LENGTH OF SIDING PREPARATORY TO THE NAILING OF THE SAME TO A WALL OF SHEATHING OR OTHER SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, AN ELONGATED UPPER GUIDE MEMBER HAVING AN INNER SURFACE ENGAGEABLE ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE SIDING TO BE APPLIED AND HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING LOWER EDGE ABUTTINGLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LOWER EDGE OF THE SIDING TO BE APPLIED, SAID UPPER GUIDE MEMBER FURTHER HAVING AN INWARDLY TAPERED OUTER SURFACE ADJACENT THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF, AN ELONGATED LOWER GUIDE MEMBER OVERLYING SAID UPPER GUIDE MEMBER AND SLIDABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE TAPERED SURFACE OF THE SAID UPPER GUIDE MEMBER, SAID LOWER GUIDE MEMBER HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING LOWER EDGE ABUTTINGLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LOWER EDGE OF THE COURSE OF SIDING IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE SIDING TO BE APPLIED, MEANS FASTENING SAID GUIDE MEMBERS TOGETHER WHEREBY TO POSITION THEM IN A SELECTED LONGITUDINAL POSITION, AND MEANS CARRIED BY THE UPPER END OF SAID LOWER GUIDE MEMBER FOR LONGITUDINALLY BIASING SAID DEVICE BETWEEN THE SAID SHEATHING ABOVE THE SIDING TO BE APPLIED AND THE COURSE OF SIDING IMMEDIATELY THEREBELOW. 